Parenteral solution equipment



United States Patent 2,893,678 PARENTERAL SOLUTION EQUIPMENT John F. Homan and Theodore H. Gewecke, Glenview,

and Cyrus R. Broman, Evanston, Ill., assignors to Baxter Laboratories, Inc.

Application January 27, 1956, Serial No. 561,711

7 3 Claims. (Cl. 248-311) This invention relates to parenteral solution equipment and, more particularly, to a parenteral solution container.

Parenteral solution containers are generally constructed of glass and have a cylindrical form. They are usually provided in sizes suitable for containing 150, 250, 500 and 1,000 ml. of parenteral liquids such as glucose, saline, blood or plasma. The solutions are dispensed from these containers by mounting these containers in a mouth downward fashion and causing the solution to flow through a flexible tube into the arm of a patient, the actual entry being made through a hypodermic needle designated a recipient needle.

Because of the smooth outer surface in the presently provided glass containers, it is often difficult or awkward for a nurse to handle themespecially insofar as the inverting and suspending operations are concerned. This is distinctly true of the larger sizes, where on occasion a bottle has slipped from the grasp of the administrator. It is to be appreciated that such an accident may have consequences other than the mere loss of the solution and spillage created. It may be that the solution is needed at the precise moment and no substitute solution is immediately available.

Once the solution bottle is suspended from a vertical standard placed adjacent the bed or operating table and the course of administration commences, it is possible, with the presently provided containers, for wobbling or shifting of the bottle on its support to occur. This may result in disengagement of the fiuid conducting tube from the patient or movement of the recipient needle with consequent pain to the patient.

The improved container of our invention avoids these aforementioned difficulties and in addition provides a more economical container. Essentially, our invention includes the provision of a specially designed longitudinal recess or slot in the outside wall of a parenteral solution bottle which facilitates handling and which cooperates with the devices used for suspending the bottle to prevent wobbling.

Our invention will be explained in conjunction with the attached drawing in which Fig. 1 is an elevational view of the container of our invention shown in manual grasp prior to suspension; and Fig. 2 is an elevational view partially in section of the container of our invention equipped with a band and mounted thereby on a vertical standard.

Referring now to the drawing, the numeral 10 generally designates a parenteral solution container. Container 10 includes a glass bottle 11 of a size in the range from 150 ml. to 1,000 mi. as described above. The mouth of bottle 11 is closed by a resilient plug 12 through which extend liquid outlet and air inlet passages (not shown). Mounted in the air inlet passage of plug 12 and extending inwardly of bottle 11 is air tube 13 which permits air to enter bottle 11 to replace exiting liquid. In- Serted into the liquid outlet passage of plug 12 and fricice tionally secured therein is parenteral administration set, generally designated 14. In the usual embodiment, administration set 14 includes a plug-in connector 15 which communicates with the liquid outlet passage of plug 12. Secured to the unconnected end of connector 15 is a length of flexible tubing 16. The unattached end of tubing 16 is provided with a recipient needle 17 suitable for introduction into the body of a patient. Regulating the flow through tubing 16 is clamp 18 which may take one of many forms known to the art. Intermediate the ends of tubing 16 is drip meter 16a which permits visual determination of the rate of flow of the parenteral solution by counting the number of drops falling through meter 16a during a given'period of time. 7

Referring again to bottle 11, it is to be noted that the outer side wall of the container is provided with longitudinal slot or recess 19, which permits bottle 11 to be grasped tightly by a hand 20 when the fingertips are pressed against the trough of recess 19.

Longitudinal slot 19 extends from the base of bottle 11 to a point spaced from the shoulder of the bottle. Thus, the end of slot 19 provides a stop or limit should the bottle be grasped with wet fingers. A stop or limit is provided at the base end of slot 19 by band 21. Limiting the extent of slot 19 to only a portion of the length of the cylindrical portion of bottle 11 also provides a noninterrupted smooth side wall as at 19b. Having a smooth side wall on bottle 11 is important for mass production where bottles are frequently abutting and may rotate. Without smooth side walls the recesses may become engaged and interrupt the smooth flow of bottles on a conveyor.

Referring now to Fig. 2, yet another use of our invention is shown wherein it is possible to mount the apparatus of Fig. 1 without the need for using a conventional bail or wire hoop (as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1) secured to band 21. Band 21 is maintained in position adjacent the base of bottle 11 by mounting it in an annular recess 21a. Alternatively, band 21 can be so positioned by providing annular ribs or beads and not forming bottle 11 with annular recess 21a. Standard 22 is provided with an upturned hook or ear 23 which is inserted under band 21 at the point where band 21 crosses recess 19. Mounted on standard 22 is rubber sleeve 24 which engages recess 19 to maintain bottle 11 in a stable position.

In addition to providing a more economical unit by the elimination of a bail, the apparatus of Fig. 2 has the further advantage of being easily cratable. In the crating of a bail-equipped bottle (it is the usual practice to sell a carton of six or twelve units), care must be exercised to insure that the bail is not extended outwardly of the base of bottle 11. Should this be the case, the bail may become disengaged or rupture the carton.

We have found it desirable to provide a pair of recesses 19, in diametrically opposed positions to permit easier manipulation of bottle 11 under the conditions shown in Fig. l.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only and no unnecessary limitations are to be unfairly inferred therefrom.

We claim:

1. Parenteral solution equipment, comprising a vertical standard, an upwardly-extending hook mounted on said standard, a sleeve mounted on said standard and spaced below said hook, and a cylindrical glass parenteral solution bottle having its outer wall interrupted by a longitudinally-extending slot and an annular recess ad jacent to but spaced from the base of said bottle, said longitudinally-extending slot extending from the base of said bottle only partway along the length of said bottle, a circular band mounted in said annular recess, said hook being received in said recess in said slot under said band and said sleeve being received in said slot, whereby said bottle is mounted on said vstandard secure against accidental lateral displacement. w k v 2. A container for parenteral fluids comprising a generally cylindrical glass'bottle equippedwith a closure closing the mouth thereof, the outer wall of the bottle being interrupted by a pair of diametrically opposed, longitudinal slots andband means in an annular recess adjacent to but spaced from the bottom: of the bottle and encircling the bottle to provide, with said slots, earreceivable means for mounting said container on a vertical standard. i

3. In parenteral solution administration equipment for thedispensing of parenteral fluids from a rigid container mounted in a mouth-downward condition, a vertical standard equipped with anupwardly extending hook and a cylindrical glass parenteral solution bottle having its 'outer wall interrupted by a pair of longitudinally extending slots and an annular recess adjacent to but spaced from the base of the bottle, said longitudinally extending slots extending from the base of said bottle only partway along the length of the bottle, and a circular band mounted in said annular recess, said hook being received in oneof said slots under said band.

7 References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 845,777 Grossman Mar. 5, 1907 1,240,072 Maiden Sept. 11, 1917 2,224,672 Davis Dec. 10, 1940 2,723,665 Goldsmith Nov. 15, 1955 Barr Feb. 5, 1957 

